Intense synaptic activity enhances temporal resolution in spinal motoneurons

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

In neurons, spike timing is determined by integration of synaptic potentials in delicate concert with intrinsic properties. Although the integration time is functionally crucial, it remains elusive during network activity. While mechanisms of rapid processing are well documented in sensory systems, agility in motor systems has received little attention. Here we analyze how intense synaptic activity affects integration time in spinal motoneurons during functional motor activity and report a 10-fold decrease. As a result, action potentials can only be predicted from the membrane potential within 10 ms of their occurrence and detected for less than 10 ms after their occurrence. Being shorter than the average inter-spike interval, the AHP has little effect on integration time and spike timing, which instead is entirely determined by fluctuations in membrane potential caused by the barrage of inhibitory and excitatory synaptic activity. By shortening the effective integration time, this intense synaptic input may serve to facilitate the generation of rapid changes in movements.
Original languageEnglish
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume3
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)e3218
Number of pages12
ISSN1932-6203
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Research areas

  • Action Potentials, Animals, Computer Simulation, Electric Conductivity, Electrophysiology, Membrane Potentials, Models, Statistical, Motor Activity, Motor Neurons, Neurons, Spinal Cord, Stochastic Processes, Synapses, Synaptic Potentials, Time Factors, Turtles

ID: 8237613